STATEMENT DENIED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 22, 5 November 1938, Page 5

STATEMENT DENIED.

NEW ZEALAND AND DEFENCE. AUSTRALIAN MINISTER’S WORDS. (United Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, November 4. The Federal Minister for Defence (Mr H. V. Thorby) to-day denied that he had said New Zealand was the weak link in Empire defence. He regretted that the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Savage, should have attacked him on wrong information.

The statement which Mr Thorby denies was printed in both the Sydney “Sun” and the Sydney “Morning HeraU.”

. The statement was made yesterday by Senator H. S. Foil, as representative of Mr Thorhv. Senator Foil was reported as saying: “New Zealand is t:ie weak link in the whole Empire chain, and the strength of our sister Dominion is vital to us.” • MR SAVAGE’S COMMENT. CO-OPER ATING WITH WAR OFFICE WELLINGTON, This Day.

Last night’s cablegram in which Mr Thorby mentions criticism by Mr Savage refers to the Prime Monster’s comment, as .published in Auckland, on the reported statement by Mr Tliorby that New Zealand was the weak link in the whole Empire chain. Mr Savage pointed out that Now Zealand, in common with other Empire countries, was cooperating with the War Office and the authorities in Britain and the majority of the Empire seemed to ho well satisfied Avith the Dominion’s plans and efforts Avithin the last three years to bring the defence system to efficiency. Mr Sav age characterised Mr Thorby’s reported comments as “a piece of impudence.”